The Gentlemen�s Brand
Porfirio RUBIROSA A gentleman lives life to the full. The Swiss label RUBIROSA produces exclusive fashion for men. All items are handmade in the highest quality and offer unrivalled wearer comfort. The company upholds the traditional standards of craftsmanship and relies on the most experienced workshops in Europe. Yet that’s not all. The magic is in the philosophy.
born, so that more gentlemen would have access to the pieces. And success quickly followed.
RUBIROSA, named after the legendary Latin American gentleman Porfirio Rubirosa (1909–1965), is more than just a brand. Like the style icon Rubirosa, this young label represents an outlook on life: embracing beautiful things, fashion, style, pleasure, personality, authenticity and creativity. In short, RUBIROSA is pure joie de vivre – from head to toe.
Although RUBIROSA is primarily sold online, the products are also available in shops-in-shops, naturally in the very best locations such as Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz. RUBIROSA items are produced in Italy, Portugal and Switzerland and are exquisitely handmade.
The high-quality products are aimed at modern cosmopolitans of every age who value class and aesthetics. Men who have certain aspirations for themselves and those around them. Like a true gentleman, the RUBIROSA customer also appreciates understatement. He uses selected pieces to emphasise his own line. Simple, but efficient.
Because where quality is concerned, the company refuses to compromise. The manufacturers are renowned; the leather is of the finest origin. And the founders are proud of that. As are all the men who take the brand out into the world. The company also produces men’s shoes, accessories and … skis. Because sport is also part of any true gentleman’s life. Regardless of whether he lives in Switzerland, France, America or the UK. Incidentally, man-about-town Porfirio Rubirosa is said to have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond. After all, a Bond also lives life to the full.
RUBIROSA also stems from a very unique gentlemen’s club. More than ten years ago, a group of friends discovered a shared joy in outstanding, self-made fashion. They decided to produce their own creations exclusively for the small number of members. Soon the results were making an impact far beyond the confines of the club. The founders of the club decided to brave the next step and RUBIROSA was
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SneAkerS RUBIROSA uses only top-quality leather and maintains the exclusive standards of its craftsmanship. The unmistakable character of the handmade shoes is revealed primarily in day-to-day wear. The quality of the materials shines through in their unbeatable wearer comfort and is testament to their authenticity. Style and quality are complemented by sporty elegance.
ARIZA BLACK
High-top sneaker suede and calfskin
Laces in two colours
The insole offers the very best fit
A zip closure on the inner side of the shoe makes them easy to put on and take off
A leather inner side and inner sole guarantee a natural climate for the foot
Rubber sole
100 % handmade in Veneto, Italy
Timeless RUBIROSA Style
ARIZA GREY
ARIZA BLUE
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ARIZA RED
ARIZA WHITE VINTAGE
ARIZA RUST
ARIZA AZURE VINTAGE
ARIZA OLIVE
ARIZA SAND
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“I have always cared about clothes, and I will go to any length to look good, but the way Rubirosa dressed made me feel as if I’d fallen off the garbage truck.” Sammy Davis Jr.
CASUAl high The high-top sneaker embody casual luxury and convince with the softness of high-grade cowhide. The sporty and smart sneaker is perfect with chinos, jeans and other casual pants and not only on the weekends. The Odile is, like all Rubirosa shoes, made 100 % by hand in Italy. The inside and insole made of leather not only provide the best fit, but also guarantee a natural foot climate.
ODILE BROWN
High-top sneaker calfskin
The insole offers the very best fit
A leather inner side and inner sole guarantee a natural climate for the foot
Rubber sole
100 % handmade in Veneto, Italy
Timeless RUBIROSA Style
ODILE WHITE
ODILE BRANDY
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ODILE BLUE
ODILE BLACK
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CASUAl loW The high-top sneaker embody casual luxury and convince with the softness of high-grade cowhide. The sporty and smart sneaker is perfect with chinos, jeans and other casual pants and not only on the weekends. The Odile is, like all Rubirosa shoes, made 100 % by hand in Italy. The inside and insole made of leather not only provide the best fit, but also guarantee a natural foot climate.
High-top sneaker calfskin
The insole offers the very best fit
A leather inner side and inner sole guarantee a natural climate for the foot
Rubber sole
100 % handmade in Veneto, Italy
Timeless RUBIROSA Style
JOAN BROWN
JOAN BLACK
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JOAN WHITE
JOAN ORANGE VINTAGE
JOAN PEARL
JOAN RED VINTAGE
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KIM BEIGE
KIM PEARL
KIM AZURE
KIM BLUE
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KIM BLACK
“As soon as Rubirosa came, everything changed, it was like magic!” Régine Owner of Jimmy’s Paris
BUSineSS ShoeS The business shoes are 100 % made by hand in Italy. Only the best leathers are used, which are particularly hard-wearing capable and stable. They are also characterized by an incomparable look and comfortable fit. All models are Blake sewn. This style is a little bit older than Goodyear, and was revived again in the 1950s by the Italian footwear industry.
Handmade leather sole
Blake sewn
100 % handmade in Italy
Timeless RUBIROSA Style
AVA BROWN DERBY
Leather vegetable tanned in Italy
Derby leather shoe
Hand-colored
Lining calf bleu
Handmade leather sole with vibram rubber
ANA BLACK OXFORD
France box calf leather
Oxford leather shoe
Lining calf bleu
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ZSA ZSA BLACK
Patent leather
Lining calf beige
ZSA ZSA BROWN Lining calf beige
JUDY BOOT
moneYCliP WAllet Handmade bi-fold calf leather wallet with a central money clip. The high-quality RUBIROSA leather wallet is as practical as it is stylish and is the ideal companion for everyday life. RUBIROSA wallets are made by hand to the highest quality standards in the greatest, most experienced low-volume workshops in Veneto, Italy.
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Bi-fold closure
Debossed logo
Three card slips on each side
Calf leather
Central money clip
Silk lining
10.7 x 8.5 cm
Handmade in Italy
At some point he met Ian Fleming, and the novice writer came up with the great idea of basing a character on Rubirosa. A certain spy named James Bond
MAHANA BRIEFCASE 40 x 12 x 31 cm
BAHIRA WEEKENDER BAG
Detachable adjustable leather shoulder strap
53 x 28 x 31 cm
Available in black and brown leather
Available in brown leather
CALLUNA WEEKENDER BAG
50 x 24 x 28 cm
Detachable adjustable leather shoulder strap
Available in black and brown leather
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BUSineSS And trAvel BAgS RUBIROSA bags are made by hand to the highest quality standards in the best, most experienced low-volume workshops in Portugal. Only the best quality cow leather from France is used – for a unique, stylish look combining vintage and elegance.
Certificated vegetable-tanned calf leather
100 % handmade
Timeless RUBIROSA Style
CERENGA WEEKENDER BAG
56 x 28 x 30 cm
Detachable adjustable leather shoulder strap
Available in black and brown leather
QUALITY
Trademark Pelle Conciata al Vegetale in Toscana is the logo that guarantees leather made by the book.
The Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather Consortium regulates, preserves and guarantees the production of vegetable-tanned leather made in Tuscany throughout its quality trademark: Tuscan Vegetable-Tanned Leather. The use of this quality trademark is bound to the observance of the technical Production Regulations that all member tanneries are committed to respect. The document defines “vegetable-tanned leather”, stating that the whole productive process in its qualifying phases must be made in Tuscany, and fixes strict chemical/physical standards for the leather to be marked “Tuscan Vegetable-Tanned Leather”. To identify and guarantee leather complying with this production Technical Sheet, the Consortium created a guarantee label endowed with a product traceability system. The Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather Consortium is the exclusive owner of the registered trademark “Pelle Conciata al Vegetale in Toscana”.
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VEGETABLE TANNED
Leather
Vegetable tanning is an artisan tradition that the Tuscan tanneries have handed down from father to son for centuries, mixing antique recipes and state-of-the-art technology. The transformation from raw hides into a material that will resist throughout time is a process that slowly happens into wooden drums, in full respect of man and the environment. An astonishing process based on the use of natural tannins extracted from trees, on modern technologies and machineries and on the slow passing of time. Among the various tanning methods, the vegetable tanning is still nowadays the most traditional, the most recognisable, the only one able to give leather unique characteristics. It is able to join comfort and look, fashion and tradition, uniqueness and versatility of the product.
THE GUARANTEE
Label
Guarantee labels certify the product’s origin as well as a proper handling of the tanning process and the natural characteristics of the vegetable-tanned leather supplied by the consortium’s tanneries. Labels are printed with anti-counterfeiting techniques. They are also progressively numbered and recorded so that the Consortium can identify both the supplying tannery and the product manufacturer at any time and all over the world.
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Care
Instructions It’s of the upmost importance to keep your footwear at it’s finest. Proper care and attention should be paid to the leather depending on its type to maintain the best condition of the shoes. Nubuck, Suede and Velour This process is extremely important for the hides’ longevity and aesthetics. The process should be performed using a soft bristled brush for suede and a nubuck brush for nubuck and velour. Gently brush the entire shoes with a backwards and forwards motion paying close attention to the pressure applied.
Bovine and Calf Begin by ensuring that any dirt and debris has been removed using a boot brush. Using a cleaning cloth and cleansing milk start to nourish the leather using circular motions. Once the leather has dried buff with a boot brush. Since the cleaning stage removes previous layers of polish, the shoes now need to be polished and shined.
The aim is to clean and raise the natural hair of the hide without causing stress on the shoe. Drop of ice-cold water and suede brush. To allow the pile to naturally rise without damage, polish the outsole and heel using wax polish. Tips for other leather goods and belts: the same processes can be applied. For permanent stains, contact your nearest leather specialist dry cleaners.
Being a star pupil, you’ll already have a second cleaning cloth ready. Apply a reasonable quantity of wax polish (the polish should be the same colour as the shoes). Using a cleaning cloth tightly wrapped around your index and middle finger, work the wax well into the leather, not forgetting the sole, tongue and heel. Now daub the cleaning cloth in cold water and apply in a circular motion on to the entire shoe. Make sure not to use too much water as you risk dampening the leather rather than crystallising the wax polish. The final effect will be a beautifully polished pair of shoes.
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“I am, and will always be, a man of pleasure.” Porfirio Rubirosa
Porfirio RUBIROSA LiVe and Love in the Fast Lane. The famous Latin American was a style icon and the last great playboy of the twentieth century. Among the jet set of the forties and fifties, Rubirosa was considered the “ultimate man’s man”. He played polo, loved women, piloted aeroplanes, drove racing cars and searched for sunken treasures in the Caribbean. It’s no wonder that this man-about-town inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond. was also to be his downfall. He died on 5th of July 1965 aged just 56 in a car accident in Paris when he crashed his Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet into a chestnut tree in the Bois de Boulogne. The cause of the accident was recorded as a damaged steering box.
Porfirio Rubirosa Ariza was born on 22nd January 1909 in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic He was the son of a general and diplomat and grew up in Paris, returning to his homeland aged 17 and studied law. Having abandoned his studies, he went into the military and met the daughter of dictator Trujillo Molina. They married, but divorced soon afterwards. His father-in-law appointed him a diplomat in France, where he enjoyed a stellar ascent as a Latin lover and gentleman.
It wasn’t only Ian Fleming who was inspired by Rubirosa’s life. The main character in Harold Robbins’ novel “The Adventurers” was also based on Porfirio. He was “always perfectly dressed”, according to banker Gerard Bonnet, a polo friend from Paris. The entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., to whom elegance was hugely important, said of the famous Dominican: “I have always cared about clothes, and I will go to any length to look good, but the way Rubirosa dressed made me feel as if I’d fallen off the garbage truck.”
Rubirosa’s other wives included the actress Danielle Darrieux, millionaires Doris Duke and Barbara Hutton and model Odile Rodin. Alongside his well-known relationship with Zsa Zsa Gabor, Rubirosa is said to have had affairs with thousands of women. His charms are supposed to have won over Dolores del Rio, Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Susan Hayward, La Môme Moineau and Evita Perón, to name but a few.
Porfirio Rubirosa’s glamour and sparkle remain captivating to this day. His consummate sense of style, for example, defines the exclusive men’s fashion of RUBIROSA – an equally willful Swiss label with the highest claims of quality, which embraces the same philosophy on life as its Latin American namesake: Pleasure has absolute priority.
As a race-car driver he was on the start line for the 24-hour Le Mans race several times, and he also piloted a B-25 bomber. His love of speed, however,
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rubirosa management gmbh Lagerstrasse 4 | CH-9200 Gossau SG Tel.: +41 44 586 02 80 | E-Mail: info@rubirosa.com www.rubirosa.com Finest Men Shoes and Accessories.